InsideTV Podcast: Is 'The Following' really worth following?

My coworkers all seem to love The Following. And although the ratings dropped off a bit last week, there seems to be a solid audience for the show as well. So am I the only person to find the show both riddled with clichés (the erudite British serial killer and flawed anti-hero) and laughably implausible (cult followers acting as covert double agents for years on end)? I don’t even hate the show, I just find it super frustrating at times. On the latest edition of the InsideTV Podcast, Following fan Jessica Shaw and I discuss and debate the show. And in a truly Freaky Friday moment, I name the one character on the show I do really love — only to then have Jessica attempt to refute that person’s particular awesomeness. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Click on the audio player icon below, listen in, and then tell us what you think.

While we’re on the subject of new dramas, Jessica and I also share our thoughts on FX’s new cold war espionage drama The Americans. How do we feel about Felicity playing an icy cold KGB spy? We talk all about what’s working on the show, as well as some slight concerns going forward. And then the podcast turns momcast as we welcome Survivor fan-turned-favorite John Cochran and his mother Arlene to the program. Arlene was very upset last time John played about some of the things I wrote about her son. Now that he is returning to play Survivor: Caramoan, is she ready to handle her son being both out on the island and back in the public spotlight? It’s a candid, revealing, funny, and heartwarming chat featuring mother and son.